Sandhill Rustic Luperina nickerlii (Freyer) gueneei (Doubl.) (Lep.: Noctuidae): New to Denbighshire (VC 50)

2 Pages·2001·0.81 MB·

by  Sam Thomas

234 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD, VOL. 113 25.ix.2001
occurrence of the two beetles at Ankerwycke appears to represent a new
county record for each, their presence here is not wholly surprising as the site
is located only a few kilometres away from Windsor Great Park where both
have been recorded previously. The example of fuscula was obtained by
beating the lower branches of a large parkland oak, and the testacea by
beating the young re-growth of a nearby old lime which had had the upper
section of the main trunk snapped off, exposing the heart rot. It is also of
interest to note that Prof. J. A. Owen (pers. comm.) has reared testacea from
the heart rot of lime at Windsor.
Both beetles are given Red Data Book status in Hyman & Parsons (1992. A
UK
review ofthe scarce and threatened Coleoptera ofGreat Britain, Nature
Conservation 3. JNCC): testacea (RDB Rare category) is the more widespread
with a few records spanning much of England; whilst nearly all records of
fuscula (RDB Endangered category) are from the Windsor area. Allen (Ent.
Rec. 113: 1-2) reports the recent discovery offuscula in East Gloucestershire
by P. Whitehead, and casts doubt on an historic record from Surrey.
Ankerwycke is a parkland site on the north side of the Thames acquired by
the National Trust in 1998. It supports a number of large old parkland trees
including oak, field maple, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut and lime, there is
also the renowned Ankerwycke yew in the grounds of an 1 1th century priory
- a tree believed to be in excess of2000 years old. At the time ofmy visit only
a few other common saproxylic beetles were recorded as very little decaying
timber was readily accessible for study - a consequence of decaying timber
being removed by the previous owners. Even so, one other species ofnote, the
brown tree antLasius brunneus was common in the old trees over much ofthe
property. In view of the close proximity to Windsor and the occurrence of the
two Scraptia it is hoped that other scarce saproxylic invertebrates will also be
present at the Ankerwycke site - future management of the property will
incorporate a more sympathetic approach towards maintaining the old trees
and their saproxylic habitats.
I am grateful Mr A. A. Allen and Prof. J. A. Owen for providing relevant
literature, details of field observations, and their assistance in determining the
specimens - A. P. Foster, The National Trust, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester,
Gloucestershire GL7 IRQ.
Sandhill Rustic Luperina nickerlii (Freyer) gueneei (Doubl.) (Lep.:
Noctuidae): New to Denbighshire (VC 50)
On 11 August 2001, we attended a public moth event in Denbighshire
organised for National Moth Night. The event was held at a newly created
local natural reserve consisting of a remnant of the once extensive dune
system that used to be present along the North Wales coast. The conditions for
traping were poor with a very strong southerly wind blowing across the site.
Despite the conditions, two traps were established in sheltered locations.
Fortunately, the wind eased as darkness approached and a few interesting
NOTES 235
insects were attracted to light. These included Archer's Dart Agrotis
vestigialis and many Latticed Heath Semiothisa clathrata. Around midnight,
we organised a search along the proto-dunes at the seaward edge of the
reserve by torchlight. This resulted in Alan Wagstafflocating a single, pristine
Sandhill Rustic Luperina nickerlii gueneei.
On checking with the county recorder and with Adrian Spalding and David
Green, it became apparent that this represents the first record ofthis RedData
Book category 2 species for VC 50 and, hence, it also establishes a new site
for the insect. The status of the site is under discussion with Countryside
Council for Wales and the local Council who own it, in order to arrange
protection for the insects. Consequently, the site details are necessarily
withheld for the time being - Sam Thomas, Alan Wagstaff and Adrian
Wander, 16 Bramhall's Park, Anderton, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6AH.
—
We
Hazards of butterfly collecting: are going to shoot you, Sir Benin,
Nigeria, 1969
In July 1969 I did one of the most stupid things I have ever done. I don't do
that kind of thing anymore. I was staying with my parents in Nigeria (my
father was director of UNICEF). I had the chance of hitching a ride to Benin
City. Now, what happens in Nigeria is that the number of species increases
dramatically from west to east. So you have perhaps 700 species in the Lagos
area, 900 in the Niger Delta area, and you have 1,100 species in the East.
Benin was very close to the front line of the so-called Biafra conflict and
one should not really go there - but the butterflies called and one was young
and optimistic. I lodged with a delightful UNICEF Indian family and I had
brought their quota of Indian spices sent through the diplomatic pouch;
wonderful Indian food for my four day stay in Benin.
During the first two days I had splendid collecting - lots ofthings not found
in the Lagos area. And then back for a convivial Indian dinner. But on the
third day things went awry. My host dropped me at a small patch of forest
about three kilometres from Benin Airport and a major army base. It was a
really rich locality, but after three hours I buckled down to the discipline of
photographing butterflies. I did not have a macro lens, so I was using
extension tubes. It was a cool and intermittently cloudy day, just fine for
photography. I got some very nice images.
Then an army Land Rover drew up. A corporal and a private came out, both
with submachine guns. The corporal was very drunk, the private driver
somewhat less so; they had obviously been out here to drink too much palm
wine during office hours. "Your are a spy" - I tried to explain that this was
not possible; my camera could only focus at short distance. The driver agreed
that the camera was for short distance, but in much of Africa cameras are
anyway deeply suspect. I tried to show the corporal, but his alcoholic stupor
could not support the effort. But he did see my boots. They were some very
nice khaki canvas boots, bought at the Bata shoeshop in Lagos. "You killed